Adjustable inlet structure for conduits



June 18, 1935.

E F. M UERAY ADJUSTABLE INLETI' S TRUC T URE FOR CONDUITS Filed June 8, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

.44., 'ATTORNEYS.

June 18, 1935. E, F MURRAY ADJUSTABLE INLET STRUCTURE FOR CONDUITS Filed June 8, 1933 2 Sheets$het 2 lN VENTR.

'TTORS.

Patented June 18, 1935 -ADJUSTABLE INLET STRUCTURE CONDUITS FOR Ethan Frank Murray, Columbus, Ga., assignor to" Lummus Cotton GinCompany, Columbus, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Application June 8, 1933,. Serial No., 674,920

' 3 Claims. (o1. 302-34) My invention relates; generally to improvements in adjustable conduits and the like, but has especial reference to. the so called telescopes, or intake terminals, of pneumatic conveyors such asv are used for supplying cotton gins, gin feeders,

etc. a

In order to emciently gather cotton into the pneumatic conveyor from a wagon or pile, it has been the practice to make up the metal intake conveyor pipe section 'of telescoping members,

and by means of a canvas or leather joint, to

connect such intake section, or telescope, as it is known in the art, to the adjacent conveyor pipe section. Such construction enables the telescope to be manually swung around in different directions to gather up the cotton and its length increased or reduced as occasion may require. However, while a canvas or leather sleeve joint connection between the telescope and the conveyor proper, gives the telescope ample freedom of movement, yet such joints quickly wear out or become punctured and must be frequently renewed.

It is therefore the primary object of the present. invention to eliminate the necessity of using said objectionable canvas or leather joints, and to provide a novel and improved airtight conduitproviding connectionbetween the telescope and conveyor, which connection may and preferably will be of metal, so. as to provide an all-metal telescope-and conveyor construction having all the advantages of the leather or canvas joint without the objections thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conveyor and telescope construction wherein the connection between a telescope and conveyor provides a support for both.

The invention also resides in a novel hand grip for the telescoping members of the telescope, and in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described andclaimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate; anow-preferred embodiment.

In the drawings, wherein the same reference characters designate the same parts in all views,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a pneumatic cotton conveyor incorporating my novel telescope; I

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through one side of members I8, I9 at pivot 22;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical detail view depicting the channel I3, apart of elbow Hi and associated elements in verticalsectlon;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5--5. of Figure 2; and I Figure 6 is a detail side elevational' view of the 5 handle and clamp. structure.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, numeral 1 denotes. the pneumatic conveyor pipe leading to the gins or cotton gin feeders. This pipe I is shown as having its cute-rend telel0 scopically receivingthe cylindrical nipple end; 80. of what is shown in Fig; l as a rectangular pipe section 8. V V

The pipe section 8 is secured asat Q toan elbow l0. At. the back of the elbow i0 is fastened 15 the bearing bracket ll wh se horizontal'bearing portion carries the stub shaft Ha. which isfixedly secured therein by set screws llb. as shown.

Suitably secured to rafters or other appropriate supports I2 is a channel iron l3. having riveted against the outer sides at one enda bearingbracket l5, while similarly secured to the sides of said angle iron or channel l3 adjacent the opposite end thereof is the bracket M. The bracket l 5'i's U-shaped in cross-section and the ends of its. legs 25 provide attachment to the channel iron [3. The back of the bracket I5 provides a bearing. Ha (see Fig. 4) for receiving the outer end of the stub shaft Ila. A set collar M. on the end of shaft Ila tends to maintain the bearing portion 3a, of bracket l I against the bearing t5a of bracket 15.

The other channel iron carried bracket M -provides the annulus Ma. which constitutes a support for the nipple end 8a of the pipe section 8 35. previously mentioned.

From the foregoing it will be understoodthat the elbow I0 is adapted toswing about a horizontal axis provided by the bearing brackets l4, l5, and which axis is concentric with the axis of 4:0 conveyor pipe I. As will be apparent as'the description proceeds, the horizontalpivot structure just recited provides one element of a dirigible mounting or universal connection between the pneumatic conveyor pipe 1' and the telescope or 45 inlet connectionof which pipe 8 and elbow- IB are a part.

Furthermore, it will be evident from the structure recited that the channel iron l3 with the depending brackets l4, l5 not only provides a 50 I support for the telescope but alsoprovides a support for the inlet end of the conveyor 1,

proper. I I

From an inspection of Figures 1 and 2, it will be apparent that the elbow II) has its lower end secured as at I! to the outlet end of a two-part casing comprising the interfitting swingably connected sections l8, l9. Fig. 1 illustrates the sides of the interfitting casing sections [8, i9 as curved correspondingly and that the section l8 extends into the section l9. The pivot studs 22 connecting the sections l8, I9 are disposed centrally of the casing with their axes at right angles to the axis of the stub shaft H a which cooperates with brackets l5, M for supporting the elbow for movement about a horizontal axis. Of course, the pivot studs 22 which connect the sections l3, I9 of the casing are likewise disposed in a horizontal plane and this pivot working with the elbow pivot,

and at right angles thereto, will obviously provide a universal coupling or joint that will enable the suspended telescope to be moved about in all directions for gathering up cotton from a pile in a wagon or upon the surface of the ground.

As has been mentioned in connection with Fig. 1, the sides of the casing sections l8, 39 are curved so asitopermit relative swinging of same about the axis 22. However, Fig. 2 illustrates the ends of the interfitting casing sections l8, 59 as being plane. Thersections provide a relatively loose fit at their ends and sides and in consequence of this loose fit, I provide a sealing means for preventing the entry of. air into the casing l8, :|S.1rom outside of the same. This sealing means, as shown, is provided by the laterally 'extendingupper, flange 19a which is coextensive with the rinrof section it, and carries the U- shaped clip 20 which carries the flexible flashing or sealing element 2i. This element 2| bears against the adjacent surface of section 18 so as toiefiectually seal. the-joint between sections it, l9.:;,Suitable fasteners such as 28a are availed of for securing the U-shaped clip element to flange I9, and also for securing the flashing elementin place within the clip element.

Adverting to the pivot studs 22 connecting the sections of casing l8, l9 itwill be observed from an, inspection of .Fig. 3 that the outer end walls of section l9 carry bearing portions 23, while the opposite inner surfaces of section l8 carry the reinforcement plates 24. Thus, an ,efiective bearing is provided by the bearing portions 23 and the ferrules 25 which are seated in the end walls of section I 8; and in the reinforcing plates 24 thereof, so as to bear against the inner faces of bearing portions23 and be held thereagainst by tightening up the nuts 220. on the bolts or studs 22.

The casing section l9 has a rounded nipple extension I9b which is connected as at 28 to the upper member 29 of the telescope. It is to be observed that the telescope member 29 extends slidably into the telescope member 36.

;The,telescope member 33 has secured to same a noveladjustable handle structure which comprises spaced clamps 3| which comprehend a pair of substantially semicircular sections 3m, 3lb having opposed parallel terminals 3 lo which are adapted to be drawn toward one another by means of bolts 33, so that the clamp members 3| ,willbesnugly engaged with pipe 30. The bolts 33 are disposed inwardly of the outer ends of the lateral terminals 310.

Companion lateral terminal portions 310 have bolts 35 adjacent their outer ends adapted to extend through vertical hand grip bars 36 for securing the same at their ends to the spaced clamps 3|. The handle structure described has the advantage of permitting ready vertical adjustment of same along telescope section 36, as occasion may require. The handles 36 will be permanently secured to the clamps 3| as clamp sections 3la, 3lb will be comparatively springy, and tightening up of the bolts 33 enables gripping action to take place without disturbing the handle securing means.

Figure 2 illustrates the telescope section 30 as having a lateral ear 38 receiving a cable 39 which extends upwardly about a pulley 40 carried by a rafter or support 12. The depending end of cable 39 carries the counter weight M for balancing the weight of the lower telescope section 38. Thus, the conveyor sections 29, 38 will remain in any relative adjusted relationship.

The practical advantages of the described em: bodiment of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. It will be obvious that many changes and modifications may be made in the structure herein shown and described without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described my invention What I claim as new is:

1. In a pneumatic conveyor telescope, an overhead support, a hanger depending therefrom, a conveyor pipe having one end disposed in said hanger, an elbow in swivelled connection at one end with said hanger supported end of the conveyor pipe, an inlet conduit depending from the other end of said elbow and supported thereby, a bracket on the outer curve of said elbow, a cooperating bracket depending from said overhead support in proximity to the elbow bracket, and a pivot pin received in both of said brackets in axial alignment with said conveyor pipe.

2. In a pneumatic conveyor telescope, an overhead support, a conveyor pipe suspended therefrom, an elbow in swiveled connection with said conveyor pipe at one end, an inlet conduit, a swing joint connecting said inlet conduit and the other end of said elbow, and means pivotally suspending said elbow from said overhead support in axial alignment with said conveyor pipe.

3. In a pneumatic conveyor telescope, an overhead support, a conveyor pipe, an elbow in swiveled connection at one end with said conveyor pipe, a hanger on said support and providing a common support means for the associated ends of said elbow and conveyor pipe, an inlet conduit, 2. swing joint connecting said inlet conduit and the other end of said elbow, a bracket depending from said overhead support substantially in vertical alignment with said inlet conduit, and means pivotally connecting said bracket and the elbow.

ETHAN FRANK MURRAY. 

